Destination BSN: How California Community College Transfer Students Work toward a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing

This research brief presents key findings from the RP Group’s study of community college students who pursue transfer to Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN) programs. The RP Group conducted this study in response to California’s persistent nursing shortage, the increasing call for baccalaureate-level training in this occupation and the significant number of future nurses who start their postsecondary careers in community colleges. This investigation explored (1) how BSN completers use the state’s community colleges to prepare for transfer and pursue this degree, (2) what factors impact their journey and (3) what opportunities exist for increasing and facilitating transfer to BSN programs.

The RP Group designed this document for those closely engaged in building the nurse workforce in California, including educators, employers and policy advocates. We present this brief as a work in progress to be finalized after conversations with these stakeholders. We intend for this document to:

• Share information discovered about nursing transfer through our study
• Facilitate discussions with those involved in nurse education to augment and refine this research
• Promote a dialog about what the findings mean and how they can be used